Police briefs

February 05, 2008

Pa. nurse faces drug charges

MERCERSBURG, Pa. -- A Mercersburg nurse was arrested Monday on a charge of illegally possessing prescription narcotics for her own use, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett said in a press release.

The criminal complaint alleges that Blair took Dilaudid (Hydromorphone) from automated dispensing machines in the emergency room between March and May of 2007. The drug is a derivative of the pain killer morphine.

Blair allegedly used her's and another nurse's code to access the Dilaudid machines, withdrawing the drug in "unusual frequencies," Corbett said.

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Agents with Corbett's office allege that Blair obtained three to four milligrams of Dilaudid at least 20 times in three months.

Blair, who was arraigned and released on her own recognizance, has been charged with one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, deception or subterfuge.

The fire was called in shortly before 5 p.m. from the farm of James A. Martin at 5488 Horst Road. Houpt said the large concrete and block garage was divided off into sections with plastic sheets and was being used to house sheep or lambs.

A space heater in the garage ignited animal bedding, Houpt said. The animals got outside safely before firefighters arrived and the fire was brought under control within about five minutes, Houpt said.

Firefighters with the New Franklin, Greencastle, and Franklin fire companies were at the scene, along with units from the Chambersburg Fire Department and the Franklin County Emergency Air Unit.

Pennsylvania State Police cite 17 for speeding

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police cited 17 motorists driving in excess of 90 mph on Interstate 81 during January, according to the monthly report.

Five of those drivers were cited for going 100 mph or faster on the interstate, police said. Three drivers tied for getting ticketed for going the fastest on I-81, where the posted speed limit is 65 mph.

Jake Bishop, 20, and Jonathan Wor, 18, both of Chambersburg, and Ryan Newswanger, 18, of Reinholds, Pa., were cited for going 111 mph.

In addition to Pennsylvania drivers, troopers pulled over speeders from Michigan, New Jersey, Massachusetts and West Virginia for exceeding 90 mph.

Gas drained from pickup truck in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE, Pa. -- Holes were drilled in a fuel tank and the gasoline drained from a pickup truck between Jan. 16 and Monday, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Police said the Ford F-150 was parked at the home of Carl E. Hampton at 423 W. Main St. when it was vandalized.